Ne s Go to http://stedu.stheadline.com/eng-p to listen to the news story and download the worksheet (Click 'Teacher's Corner' for the worksheet) in Liberal Studies Personal Development & Interpersonal Relationships Modern China Globalisation Public Health Energy Technology & the Environment Hong Kong Today ay Lei Yue Mun closes for a day Stall keepers protest against development plan Traders smash dishes to symbolise how a planned housing scheme would hit business. A BOUT 100 seafood stalls, restaurants and shops in Lei Yue Mun (鯉魚門) closed for business on Tuesday to protest against a decision to turn a car park into a private housing site. The day-long closure in the fishing village popular with seafood lovers cost businesses at least HK$2 million in lost revenue. Local traders said the government has decided to redevelop the 136-slot temporary car park at Lei Yue Mun Path into private housing. It will leave only 40 parking spaces for diners visiting the seafood restaurants and businesses. Angry stall owners hoisted banners criticising the government. They broke dishes to symbolise how their livelihoods are being smashed. (Sing Tao Daily) The protesters accused the government of not listening to their views and blindly developing housing “without caring about the real needs of the people”. Traders said the 370 flats planned will only add to traffic congestion in the area. They demanded that permanent parking spaces be set up. They also warned of a silent protest at the car park on 9 June, the day it is supposed to be closed down. Spokesman Wong Ping-kuen (黃炳權) of the Concern Group for Lei Yun Mun Car Park (保衞鯉魚門旅遊區關注組) said up to 600 cars arrive in the area at weekends. Some diners have to wait 30 minutes for a parking space or even cancel reservations, he said. Key Idea About 100 seafood stalls, restaurants and shops in Lei Yue Mun protested against a government decision to turn a temporary car park with 136 parking spaces into a private housing site. They closed for business for one day. The protesters are worried that there will not be enough car parking spaces for their customers and the increase in population will worsen traffic congestion in the area. The car park will be closed down early next month. Friday 16 May 2014 ● Text : Anvil Ong ● Photos : Sing Tao Daily P03 Vocabulary Reading Comprehension M : Meaning Choose the best answer: 1. What is the temporary car park going to be used for? 4. What will be the result of having public housing in the area? A. public housing B. private housing C. commercial purposes D. educational purposes A. traffic congestion will become more serious B. there will be fewer private flats C. people will leave the area D. more people will visit the stalls 2. How many parking places are there in the temporary car park? A. 100 B. 136 C. 200 D. 500 5. The people are protesting ______ the new measures. A. above B. around C. against D. no word is needed 3. What did the local traders do during the protest? A. they sang songs B. they blocked roads C. they smashed dishes D. they started fires E : Example 1 stall (n) 攤位 M: a small, outdoor shop with an open front E: I usually buy fruit from the market stalls. E: His father owns a noodle stall. 2closure (n) 停業 M: stopping operation or services E: The closure of the Japanese department store was announced yesterday. E: Lack of funding will mean closure of the tutorial school. 3 redevelop (v) 重建 M: change an area of a town by replacing old buildings, roads, etc, with new ones E: The amusement park will be redeveloped into an office building. 6. The protesters _____ more parking spaces. A. asked B. requested C. demanded D. applied E: The government has no plans to redevelop the area. 4 hoist (v) 升起 M: raise E: The flag was hoisted at six every morning. E: Cranes are used to hoist the container. Knowledge Answers on P12 5 symbolise (v) 象徵 M: represent something Lei Yue Mun (鯉魚門) is famous for its Seafood Bazaar (海鮮美食村). Customers first buy fish from a tank in a market stall. Then they take it to one of the nearby restaurants to have it cooked, but they will have to pay for the cooking. It is also one of the few places in Hong Kong where one can still see stilt houses. E: The dove symbolises peace. E: What does the green section of the flag symbolise? 6 blindly (adv) 盲目地 M: without thinking about what one is doing E: We should not blindly follow other people’s advice E: Some people just blindly follow orders. LS in a nutshell Where else can one see stilt houses in Hong Kong other than Lei Yue Mun? Learning Card 7 congestion (n) 擁擠 M: act of being blocked or crowded and causing difficulties Stilt houses can also be seen in Tai O. E: Hong Kong’s traffic congestion is getting worse. E: The doctor gave me a spray to relieve nasal congestion.